Schedule 31 and Schedule 41 of Ontario’s new omnibus Budget Bill amend the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) respectively. One change to both statutes will expand the ability of public sector bodies to share personal information with law enforcement without consent. A more extensive set of amendments to FIPPA constitute another piece of the government’s digital and data strategy,…

Schedule 56 of the Budget Bill introduces a new statute, the Simpler, Faster, Better Services Act, 2019 (SFBSA), that, once passed, will take effect when proclaimed by the Lieutenant Governor. That passage is a foregone conclusion is evidenced by the fact that the role of Chief Digital and Data Officer, created under the statute, has already been filled with the announcement of the appointment of Hillary Hartley. The goal of the SFBSA is to “promote…